Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine mosquito vector diversity and abundance in two livestock farms with previous history of arboviral activities in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. The influence of weather on mosquito populations was also studied. Adult mosquitoes were collected weekly in two proximate University of Ibadan livestock farms from March 2015 to February 2016 using CO2 baited CDC light trap and human landing collection methods. Mosquitoes were identified to species using morphological keys. Relationships and interaction of temperature, relative humidity, rainfall patterns and mosquito abundance were analysed using GENSTAT 4th edition. Among 6,195 adult mosquitoes collected, 16 species belonging to 5 genera were morphologically identified. Culex quinquefasciatus constituted the most abundant mosquito, representing 46.49% of all mosquitoes encountered. High abundance in mosquito population was noted in periods succeeding months with heavy rainfall, this is when arbovirus transmission risk is highest. A positive correlation was observed between relative humidity and abundance of Mansonia mosquitoes. This study shows the effect of weather on natural populations of mosquito vectors. The diverse mosquito species capable of transmitting arboviruses from animal reservoirs to human and animals in livestock farms and its environment in Ibadan, Nigeria was also revealed. There is need for intensive vector control strategies targeted at reducing mosquito populations and ultimately prevention of disease outbreaks.
Highlights
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are considered the most important arthropods of medical and veterinary importance as they rank first in the spread of many pathogens including arthropod-borne viruses (Service, 2003)
The city has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons; a dry season from November to February characterized by low relative humidity, high environmental temperatures with low or norainfall followed by a wet/ rainy season from March to October, with high relative humidity, lower environmental temperatures, abundant rainfall and often flooding (Ogolo and Adeyemi, 2009)
Sixteen mosquito species were encountered in this study out of which Aedes aegypti, Ae. africanus, Ae. albopictus, Ae. mcintoshi, Culex pipiens, Cx quinquefasciatus, Mansonia Africana and Ma uniformis are of significant medical importance
Summary
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are considered the most important arthropods of medical and veterinary importance as they rank first in the spread of many pathogens including arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) (Service, 2003). 300 species of mosquitoes can transmit arboviruses with varying health implications. Aedes and Culex mosquitoes are the species most frequently associated with arbovirus transmission (Karabatsos, 1985). Of the over 500 known arboviruses (Karabatsos, 1985; Tsai and Chandler, 2003; Hayes et al, 2008), approximately 100 are responsible for most human/animal diseases (Karabatsos, 1985). Humans attending to livestock are exposed to vectors that maintain and transmit arboviruses and animal reservoirs that maintain these arboviruses. This scenario provides avenue for arboviruses, which are multi host infections to jump from one species to the other through shared vectors (Parrish et al, 2008)
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